After a car accident or a serious injury, you may be faced with medical bills, insurance claims and a loss of work time in addition to pain and suffering. A personal injury attorney can help you to cope with these situations, as well as represent you in court if a lawsuit is necessary. Hiring the right lawyer can make all the difference. Here are some important questions to ask an attorney before your case goes to court.

How long have you been in practice?
Find out how many years your attorney has been practicing. Also, ask if he or she will be your only attorney going forward.

Do you specialize in personal injury cases?
While many State Bar Association do not classify any lawyer as a specialist, most attorneys focus on one particular field of law. Ask if your lawyer is well acquainted with cases involving medical malpractice, wrongful death, worker’s compensation claims, car accidents, or whatever situation you face.

Do you work off a contingency fee?
Some lawyers charge by the hour for their services. But in the case of an automobile accident or disability claim, many will take the case on a contingency basis. This means they will represent their client for a minimal or no upfront cost, and will take a percentage of the funds awarded by the court if the case is won.

Will I have to appear in court?
Sometimes cases involving an automobile accident or an injury where there is no question of fault can be settled out of court. However, a trial may be necessary.

What compensation am I entitled to?
An experienced lawyer should be able to provide an estimate on what can be collected for injuries, lost wages, hospital stays, doctor visits and any other repercussions stemming from the accident.

National Lawyers AssociationThe professional members of our association provide top of the line legal services for everything from accidents to workman's compensation and wrongful death cases. Find a firm near you today!

Accident attorneys are required to take the same training as other lawyers. That is to say, they need to have an undergraduate degree, then attend law school and pass the bar.

As a specialty, it requires knowledge of the techniques of car and personal injury accident investigation. When automobile accidents are involved, attorneys must work with investigators and the police to understand who might be at fault. They need a basic working knowledge of what happens when various vehicles are struck or strike one another. Accidents may involve trucks and motorcycles as well as cars. Automobile accidents may also be connected to intoxication, and attorneys need to know about DUI laws.

Medical malpractice is another common area. Attorneys who choose to specialize in this need a basic knowledge of biology and medicine. They need to understand the possible effects of negligence and work with experts who can fill them in on, for example, drug interactions or complications during surgery.

Other attorneys specialize in injuries that take place on the job. Heavy industries such as construction and logging tend to have the largest number of significant cases. Wrongful death is a worry at all levels of practice, and such claims often need heavy investigation. Attorneys also need to know the laws governing worker's compensation and temporary disability.

They may also deal with personal injury cases resulting from unusual situations. These could be simple slips and falls, or incidents involving hot liquids or chemical leaks. Negligence can come out in all kinds of ways, and accident attorneys need to be flexible and able to deal with unexpected situations.

Accident attorneys deal with clients who are going through difficult situations. They need to be sympathetic, determined, and may well find themselves advocating for people who have nobody else to defend them in court.